Resident Child Psychologist/Boarding Counsellor with Russian & English

Do you have:

• Proven Experience in Special Education with 13-18 year old's?
• Emotional Support for students experiencing anxiety and adjustment to 

          a new environment?

• Safeguarding /Child Protection certification?
• An international approach with a sensitive approach to cultural diversity?

Why is this opportunity unique? 

• A €100M+ Visionary Campus: We are currently building a state-of-the-art, 50,000 m² meg campus (completing by 2027) featuring a kindergarten, elementary, high school, international boarding hub, and dedicated teacher accommodations. You will be a foundational pillar of this grand transformation.
• A True Hub of Innovation: Move away from rigid, legacy school structures. We foster a progressive, dynamic, and forward-thinking educational ecosystem where student agency and holistic well-being are placed above administrative box-ticking.
• Multicultural Synergy: Located in Limassol, the cosmopolitan heart of Cyprus, our school acts as a global melting pot. You will collaborate daily with an elite international team of educators, clinical psychologists, and house-parents.

Who we are and what we do?

The Island Private School is a fast growing, innovative international school in the thriving city of Limassol committed to excellence, inclusion, and holistic education.

What makes us stand out?

• 🌐 Multicultural and internationally minded community
• 📈 Strong focus on professional growth and continuous development
• 💡 Innovative, forward-thinking learning environment
• 🤝 Collaborative and supportive teaching culture
• 📍 Vibrant location in Limassol, Cyprus

What will you do?

The Island Private School of Limassol is not just expanding we are redefining international education in the Mediterranean. We are seeking an elite, bilingual Resident Child Psychologist /Boarding Counsellor to champion the psychological well-being, growth, and pastoral care of our international boarding community.

If you are a highly qualified mental health professional looking to leave a lasting footprint on a fast-evolving, world-class institution, this is your stage.

This position has a vital and active role at The Island Private School in supporting pastoral care within boarding and the wider school. The objective is achieve a safe, happy and supportive community. It is expected that the Boarding Counsellor participates in and can lead training sessions and opportunities for professional development. They will work closely with staff, students and parents in both Russian and English to enable a growth in culture for the advocacy of students' wellbeing and welfare.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

This is a highly strategic, clinical, and pastoral role. You will bridge the gap between academic life and residential

 stability.

• Elevate Well-Being: Complete weekly RAG (Red-Amber Green) wellness reports and design customized Individual Learning Plans in lockstep with our internal Psychologist Team.
• The Independent Listener: Serve as the trusted, confidential, and safe haven for both staff and students,   upholding elite safeguarding standards.
• Empower the Community: Design, spearhead, and run peer mentoring initiatives, psycho educational workshops, and bitesize speed-training sessions for staff.
• Promote and uphold the school's mission and values amongst stakeholders in line with The Island Private School's policies and procedures.
• Support an ethos that is supportive, provides clear boundaries and expectations in all aspects of boarding and pastoral care.
• Ensure the safety and welfare of students in the boarding houses is outstanding and that all their personal and pastoral needs are appropriately met by active involvement in the boarding community.
• Foster a welcoming, happy, collective, and productive environment for student learning, development, and emotional wellbeing.
• Support The Island Private School's discipline policy as appropriate but without taking part in the disciplinary process; monitor behaviour and report any issues to the Head of Boarding.
• Work collaboratively with other staff members across the school to develop students' Individual Learning Plans and support each student to achieve their potential and take responsibility for their own learning to the highest standards, in particular, in close cooperation with the school's team of Psychologists.
• Oversee pastoral records and practices of boarders' progress, including health and wellbeing, achievements, and misconduct, and provide such reports and references as may be reasonably required.
• Attend regular Boarding and Pastoral meetings, Safeguarding meetings, and cross-departmental meetings, including working closely with the school's Psychologists.
• Produce regular confidential handovers to identified stakeholders in line with department requirements.
• Maintain a high level of professional integrity and professionalism when dealing with sensitive information and report any concerns correctly to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Provide a confidential Independent Listener role for staff and students, reporting any safeguarding concerns directly to the DSL.
• Plan and help run social, emotional, and counselling-related initiatives in cooperation with boarding colleagues.
• Contribute to the current Psychologist team provision and prepare to further develop a peer mentoring training programme.
• Prepare training sessions for staff, including bitesize speed training during regular staff meetings.
• Assist with writing and coordinating wellbeing policies at The Island Private School.
• Contact and liaise with parents if required by the Head of Boarding.
• Complete 4 hours of in-house boarding duties per week.
  
  

Essential Qualifications & Experience

We maintain an uncompromising standard of excellence for our boarding house ecosystem:

• The Academic Foundation: Higher education (Master’s Degree or higher) in Counselling, Clinical Psychology, 
• or a highly related mental health field.
• The Track Record: 5+ years of verified, post-qualification counselling experience (prior residential or boarding school experience heavily preferred).
• The Linguistic Edge: Absolute native or near native fluency in both English and Russian (written and spoken) to seamlessly navigate our student and stakeholder demographics.
• The Core Traits: High emotional intelligence, flawless professional integrity, adaptability to fast paced  environments, and a genuine passion for youth advocacy.

Bonus Skills/Experience

• Ideally you have worked in a school/boarding environment 
• You speak other international languages

Working Conditions /Schedule 

This role embraces an unconventional, high impact schedule tailored to when boarders need you most (40 hours/week):

• Sunday: 14:00 – 23:00
• Wednesday to Saturday: 18:00 – 23:00
• Days Off: Monday & Tuesday
• Includes on-call/on-campus duties during working days + 7 hours of aligned stakeholder meetings with boarding staff, Psychologists, and stakeholders across the wider school.
• Attendance is required at all Boarding & Pastoral training days and student induction days. There is a requirement to be onsite a day prior to boarders' return and on departure days, and to be available within the boarding houses.

*Alternatively, we can offer some flexibility with a part- time  schedule (20 hours per week ) Mon-Fri from 6-10pm when the students will be on site (4 hours x 5 days)with Sat/Sun as days off.  

Safeguarding & GDPR Compliance

• Safer Recruitment: The Island Private School is strictly committed to student welfare. This post is subject to  a rigorous background, reference, and clean police record checks.
• Data Protection: Your CV will be stored securely per GDPR guidelines based on your consent preferences. Note: If you applied previously, please submit an updated CV for this specific position

What we offer

If you are ready for an exciting career move and you have a proven track record in the skills we require we will handle your smooth transition to our state-of-the-art campus including :

 

✨ Relocation Support: Flights, logistics, and dedicated immigration assistance.

✨ Premium Benefits: Competitive tax-efficient salary & optional comprehensive group medical scheme

✨ Unmatched Lifestyle: Live and work in Europe's sunniest coastal business hub.

✨ Fast-growing, tech-forward campus environment

✨Competitive remuneration based on experience and qualifications

✨Modern, professional working environment

✨Free accommodation on site 

✨Continuous learning and development opportunities

✨Career growth within a fast-growing poly-systemic school

✨Referral program with a 500 EUR bonus if you make a successful introduction to our team

Join The Island School and help deliver a world-class IB education in a collaborative, international environment.

 We uniquely offer:

✅ 4 Programs of IB curriculum

✅ (PYP/MYP/DP) Montessori, Waldorf & TFL all on one campus

✅ Professional growth & training

✅ An inspiring global community

Step into your next Chapter.

Be part of a legacy in the making. Submit your professional CV and a brief cover letter outlining your counselling philosophy today.

(Please note: Due to high application volumes, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.)